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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has promised “accountability” by the government based on the findings of the Royal Commission on the attacks on the Christchurch mosque.
Ardern spent two hours meeting with victims and families affected by the shooting this morning before the commission’s report was released.
She arrived shortly after 10 in the morning at the Ngā Hau E Whā National Marae, Christchurch, and was received along with a group of deputies. They attended a hui with those directly affected by the terrorist shootings, where a gunman killed 51 people in two mosques in Christchurch on March 15 last year.
The investigation report was released to the victims and relatives of Saturday’s attack.
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ALDEN WILLIAMS / Stuff
Ardern is welcomed to the marae with a group that includes MPs.
After the hui, Ardern said the purpose of the day was to allow those directly affected by the attacks to spend time reading the report and raising any concerns.
It was “long” at 800 pages, he said.
“There are many things to consider.”
There would be “responsibility” on the part of the government in relation to the findings, he said.
“That is something we will describe once it is published in a more formal way.
“There will be some areas where they will see us respond immediately, and others where we will go back and work in more detail and spend a little more time.”
THINGS
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and MPs are welcomed at Nga Hau E Wha National Marae for a hui with members of the community affected by the mosque shootings.
It would be postponed for a “couple of days,” he said.
Ardern said he would give more details in the next week on whether a government minister would be appointed to oversee the investigation’s recommendations.
“But that was something I proactively raised with the community.”
After the Muslim Chaplin Ibrahim Abdelhalim of the Hui University of Canterbury said that he was now satisfied, as there was a “good ending” to a “very difficult time”.
He had delivered a sermon and was praying at the Linwood Mosque when the attacker attacked.
“We need to teach the whole world a lesson, we are ready, we are capable and strong enough to protect and save our country.”
He recommended that the community look ahead.
“My advice to everyone is what happened, has happened, who dies dies, who is hurt, hurt.”
The country had a responsibility to learn from what happened, he said.
“We need to pay more attention to young people, correct them. . .because one day they will lead the whole world ”.
He thanked the prime minister and the government for supporting his community.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff
Ibrahim Abdelhalim wants to look forward after the mosque shootings. (File photo)
The gunman who admitted the shooting was sentenced in August to life in prison without the possibility of parole on 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
After the attack, Commissioners Sir William Young and Jacqui Caine were tasked with investigating the gunman’s activities prior to the attack, what law enforcement agencies knew about him, and what they did with this information. Their report will assess whether the agencies could have prevented the shootings and what can be done to stop similar attacks in the future.
On November 26, their findings were delivered to Governor General Patsy Reddy and Interior Minister Jan Tinetti.
ALDEN WILLIAMS / Stuff
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrives at the Ngā Hau E Whā National Marae in Christchurch for a hui with victims and families from the mosque attacks.
